Watch-key.



4NrrnD STATES JACOB W. RIGLANDER, OF NEiV YORK, N. Y.

WATCH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,562, dated August 8, 1899.

i Application filed March 11, 1899.

To a/ZZ whom, it may concerns Be it known that I, JACOB W. RIGLANDER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Watchmakers Tools, of which the following is a specification.

'My invention has special relation to tools employed by Watch makers and repairers to operate on certain parts of the Watch mechanism to detach or attach the same, especially certain sleeves connected with the Winding mechanism; but it may also be used for other purposes. Prior to my invention it has been customary to make these sleeve-keys, of which it is required that a number of differing engaging tools or projections to conform to the structure of the sleeve of each particular watch manufacturer be made, and to afx each of them permanently toa separate handle or to provide a handle which Woulddetachably receive the keys, the keys in the latter case being made double ended--that is, provided with engaging surfaces or projections at both its ends, one of the ends being slipped into the tooland .in another case it has been customary to provide a disk in which a group of the separate keys are inserted and permanently fixed therein.

My invention has for its object to improve upon this latter construction, and in conformity therewith I employ a disk so constructed as to detachably receive each of the keys, so that not only is the construction of the tool greatly expedited, but by the detachment of one of the keys from the disk or holder in the event of the breakage of its operative end or projectionsa new one can be readily substituted, thus avoiding the destruction of the entire tool by the fracture of one of the keys, or avoiding the necessity of employing skilled machine workmen to remove the broken key and substitute a new one.

A further feature of my improvements resides in the fact that new keys or keysadapted to be employed in connection with a new form of sleeve can be substituted for the one or ones in my improved tool Without necessitating the disuse of the entire tool or the multiplying of the tools.

My invention, therefore, resides in the construction and combination of parts herein- Serial No. 708,730. (No model.)

after described, and further pointed outiu the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specication, Figure lis a front elevation of a complete tool made in accordance with my invention, partly in section; Fig. 2, a transverse sectional elevation of the holder on the line @c Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional elevation of the holder approximately on the line y y, Fig. 4; Fig. 4t, a plan or edge view of the disk or holder; and Fig. 5 shows, respectively, a side and end elevation of one of' the keys improved in accordance with my invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several Views.

The tool, which may be of any desired size, comprises, preferably, a circular or disk shaped body or holder l, preferably cast into the desired shape and having a central aperture 2, if desired, the periphery of the holder being provided with a series of radially-extending' cylindrical holes 3.

Preferably for convenience of manipulati'on the body of the holder is reduced in diameter intermediate of its periphery, which reduction in diameter is formed by the downwardly-extending annular flanges 4, which form an annular groove 5, rectangular in cross-section and of smaller diameter than the diameter of the holes 3, so as to form slightlyrounded shoulders 6, (more clearly seen in Fig. 4,-) the holes 3 opening into the groove 5.

It is not essential to.my invention' that the l body or holder be cast, as it can be made of sheet metal and either drop-forged or spun into shape, according to which is found most economical; but I prefer to cast the body on account of the strength which results in the structure consistent with lightness.

At Fig. 5 is shown the sleeve-key, which comprises a stem 7, on which the key 8 is formed, of the desired shape or configuration and having a suitable number of projecting prongs and a shank 9, which is circular in cross-section and which is provided at its end with a projecting tongue 10 of a shape in cross-section corresponding with that of the groove 5, the ends of the tongue partaking of the exterior configuration of the shank, so as to avoid the necessity of a special configura- IOO tion of the tongue. The shank 9 of the key is preferably of such a diameter that it will snugly t the hole 3, so as to prevent vibration of the key in the holder, While at the same time the tongue tting snugly in the cooperating parts of the groove 5 prevents the key from turning in the holder, the shoulders 1l of the shank resting 011 the shoulders 6 of the holder.

The fitting of the shank of the key to the holder should preferably be so tight as to require considerable force to Withdraw it,which, however, can be readily accomplished either with the finger or a plier. This snug fitting yet readiness of detachability or insertion of the key in the holder, combined With means for preventing the rotation ot' the key While in use, I consider a very valuable portion of my invention.

It is apparent that the illustrated embodiment of my invention may be modified in various Ways, among which the holder need not be of the shape shown herein and may be otherwise conformed. It is not essential that the groove be continuous as a locking-aperture, for the tongue of the key may be otherwise provided without making the groove continuous. Neither do I limit myself to making the shank of the key cylindrical in cross-section, as it may be plural sided without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, further, I do not limit myself to the particular kind of key used in connection with my tool, as Watch-keys, gage-keys, or any other suitable key or tool can be used in connection with the construction shown and described herein.

The tongue, in addition to preventing the rotation of the key in the holder, provides means for giving the projections from the end of the key their proper disposition in relation to the holder, which is Very often desired for the purpose of enabling an expeditious engagement of the key With the appropriate part of the Watch in conformity with the position of the hand of the user of the tool.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In an article of the class described, the combination with the holder provided with the interior annular groove of angular crosssection, a series of radially-disposed circular holes extending to the groove out from the periphery of the holder, the groove being of less diameter than th'at of the holes whereby shoulders are formed at the bottom of the holes and a series of keys having cylindrical shanks to fit the' holes, shoulders to fit the shoulders in the holderand projecting tongues to engage the opposing Walls of the groove, substantially as described.

2. In an article of the class described, the combination with the holder provided with a central transverse aperture and an interior annular groove leading into said aperture, a series of radially-disposed holes extending from the groove out to the periphery of the holder, the grooves being of less diameter than that of the holes whereby shoulders are formed at the bottom of the holes, and a series of keys having cylindrical Shanks to fit the holes, shoulders to fit the shoulder in the holder, and projecting tongues to engage the opposing walls of the groove, substantially as described.

Signed at the city, county, and State of New York this (ith day of March, 1899.

JACOB IV. RIGLANDER.

\Vitnesses:

JOSEPH L. LEVY, GHAs. G. l'IENsLEv.

It is hereby oertied that in Letters Patent No. 630,562, granted August 8, 1899, upon the application of Jaeob W. Riglander, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in VVateh-Keys, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: On page 2, line 52, the Word to should read from, and same page and line, the W01d`from should read to; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the .Patent Oftioe.

Signed, oountersigned, and sealed this 19th day of September, A. D., 1899.

[SEAL] VEBSTER DAVIS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Countersigned C. H. DUELL Commissioner of Patents. 

